First Sergeant Walter R. McRae, Jr., United States Army, Ret.

Walter McRae, Jr. was born February 14, 1953 in San Antonio, Texas and passed away June 11, 2011, at the age of 58, at his home in Belton, Texas, with his wife, Sally, at his side.

Walter proudly served his country in the United States Army for 23 years and retired in 1993 with the rank of First Sergeant. He was a veteran of the Desert Storm war. His many military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in combat, the Army Commendation Medal and six awards of the Good Conduct Medal.

After his retirement, he began the business Diamond Liners Truck Accessories in Temple and Killeen, Texas. He retired from that, closing his business in 2010, and was employed at the time of his death as a General Manger at Advance Auto Parts in Temple.

Walter enjoyed scuba diving, RVing and his dogs and cat.

On June 16 a Memorial Service was held for Walter at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas. Patriot Guard Riders of Central Texas were present to form a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen for inurnment with full military honors. At the cemetery, other Riders, and American flags, welcomed the arriving funeral party.

A family friend offered final thoughts and prayers for the gathered family and friends.

The United States Army Honor Guard rendered military honors. The rifle detail, standing in the shade of live oak trees above the columbarium wall, fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler played taps, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above.

The Honor Guard, then, carefully unfolded the flag that had rested against the urn and refolded it into the traditional triangle. The flag was ceremoniously passed to an Army Sergeant First Class who presented it to Sally on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation for Walter's many years of faithful service.

The cremains of First Sergeant Walter R. McRae, Jr. were then placed into a niche of the collumbarium wall as his family gathered around under the bright Texas sun, and sealed for all of eternity.

Left to cherish his memory are Sally, his son PJ, two grandchildren, two brothers, four sisters and numerous other dear family, friends and co-workers.

God Bless America

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam.
God bless America,
My home sweet home.

- Irving Berlin -

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

TSgt. Raul Rojas, United States Air Force, Ret.

Raul Rojas was born July 18, 1931 in Eagle Pass, Texas and passed away June 4, 2011 while in hospice in Temple, Texas, at the age of 79.

Raul proudly served his country for more than twenty seven years in the United States Army and the United States Air Force. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war and was twice awarded the Bronze Star medal for his heroic service. During his years in the military he moved his family frequently: to Fort Worth, Texas; Fairbanks, Alaska; Altus, Oklahoma; Tucson, Arizona; Lakenheath, England; and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Like many men that fought in Vietnam, the price was high with the memory of battle following him to his last days.

During the years when Raul wasn't in constant pain from a debilitating back injury, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He had a gift for numbers and turned this into a pursuit for a college degree in accounting and worked part-time preparing tax returns.

Raul was married for 53 years to Ellen. They enjoyed, together, camping, traveling, Mexican food, good steaks, chorizo and going on cruises. They enjoyed trips to Hawaii, watching "Dancing with the Stars, and ballroom dancing.

A memorial service was held on June 8 at the Dossman Funeral Home in Temple, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. Waiting there were more Riders, fifty American flags blowing in the Texas wind and the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Six members of the Honor Guard carefully removed the flag draped coffin from the hearse and carried it into the committal shelter. They folded the American flag into the traditional triangle, and passed it to a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. He cradled the folded flag in his arms as Pastor Darren said the final prayers.

The Air Force Rifle Detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The bugler played taps, as the bells in the cemetery bell tower tolled high noon.

The folded American flag was presented to Raul's dear wife on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Air Force and a grateful nation as thanks for his years of faithful service.

TSgt. Raul Rojas was then laid to rest on the wind swept plain, and the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, on the hill above.

Raul was the last of his immediate family. He was predeceased by his parents, a sister and a brother. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a daughter, a son, two grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.





With thanks to the Dossman Funeral Home for biographical information.

Sergeant First Class Brent R. Dewitt, US Army, Ret.

Brent Dewitt was born June 16, 1964 at Yuma, Arizona and passed away on May 26, 2011 at Harker Heights, Texas, at the age of 46.

Brent entered the United States Army in 1984 and proudly served his country for twenty years, retiring in 2004. He then worked for Symbolic Systems as a data systems analyst.

An Inurnment service, with full military honors, was held on June 6, 2011 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter in honor of this fallen veteran.

The religious portion of the service was led by Lt. Col. Lane Stockeland of the United States Army Chaplain Corps. Chaplain Stockeland read from the book of John, Chapter 14:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

He then led the gathered family and friends in The Lord's Prayer.

Two of Brent's friends spoke of their love and friendship, and one of the two sang, for Brent, the always mournful "Amazing Grace".

The United States Army Honor Guard then rendered full military honors. The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler, standing in the shade of the live Oak trees, played taps, as all in attendance stood at attention.

The Honor guard then carefully unfolded the American flag that rested next to Brent's cremains and carefully refolded it into the traditional triangle. The flag was passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer, who presented it to Brent's dear wife, Tammy, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation, as thanks for his many years of faithful service.

Tammy, accompanied by family, then placed the urn containing Brent's cremains into a niche of the columbarium wall, to be sealed for all eternity, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in honor of SFC Brent R. Dewitt.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two sons, one daughter, his mother, three sisters, three grandchildren and numerous other dear family, co-workers and fellow soldiers.

When I'm Gone

When I come to the end
of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can,
That I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had a heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.
Forget that I have stumbled
and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought
some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day,
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer
just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the evening
When the sun paints
the sky in the west,
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

-author unknown-

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.